PALATKA, FL- Over the course of the last few weeks there was a string of vandalisms/burglaries across the Downtown Palatka area. The thieves were only after one thing though, copper, and took their time taking only that, bringing the tools they needed to disassemble air-conditioning and refrigeration units and leaving business owners and residents in the area HOT.

Sometime late in the night September 21st or early in the morning the 22nd the copper thieves took their toll on The American Legion Bert Hodge Post 45. They disassembled two 5 ton air conditioning units, taking the copper from the inside and leaving the rest behind. They also stole all the copper gas lines that were used for heating and cooking at the Post according to Commander Chuck Frames.

PALATKA, FL- Contractors discovered the foundation of the Old Putnam County Jailhouse while working on the $1.1 million project near the Memorial Bridge on Highway 17 in Palatka. The project is set to improve the riverfront drainage, landscaping and parking according to Palatka City Manager Woody Boynton.

Construction workers were installing storm drainage pipes designed by the St. John's River Water Management District. When they began to dig the first thing they hit was a concrete slab estimated to be about 20 feet long by 20 feet wide, and about a foot thick according to Boynton.

Starting today, Monday September 19, 2011, Highway 17 or Reid Street in Palatka will be closed between 11th Street and 13th Street, until September 30th, 2011. Traffic on this busy 4 lane highway will be detoured during the railroad crossing construction.

Westbound traffic will be diverted to 11th Street, to Madison Street, and back to Reid Street/Hwy 17.